Quick Tip: Create a Mech-Inspired Text Effect in Photoshop Using Layer Styles

Final Product What You'll Be Creating

 

Step 1

First create a new .PSD document, 600 x 400 pixels in RGB mode, 72 DPI with any background color. Now prepare your assets. Install the SF Sports Night fonts into your computer and open all .PAT files.

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Step 2

Now go to Menu > Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and use the settings below. You can also access Blending Options with two faster ways. First and the fastest way is to double click on the layer in your layers menu. Other way is to right click on the layer in your layers menu and choose Blending Options. When you are done with all the settings below, don’t forget to hit “OK” in the Blending Options window!

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Step 3

Now we can start making our text effect. First choose the type tool and change font to SF Sports Night NS AltUpright, size around 175 pt and anti-aliasing Sharp. Now type your text somewhere in the center of the image. You can write any word, but in this tutorial I’ll use "MECH".

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Step 4

Finally we are ready to start with our text style. Go to Menu > Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and use the settings below on our text. You can also use the quicker methods to access Blending Options from "Step 2" of this tutorial. When you are done with all the settings below, don’t forget to hit "OK" in the Blending Options window! This text layer will add some shadows and lights into the final result.

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Step 4

We are almost there. Now we need to duplicate our text layer. Select the text layer in layer menu and go to Menu > Layer > Duplicate layer and name it as you wish. Now go to Menu > Layer > Layer Style > Clear Layer Style as we will make different style for this layer. Finally go to Menu > Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and use the settings below on our text. Again, you can use the quicker methods to access Blending Options from "Step 2" of this tutorial. When you are done with all the settings below, don’t forget to hit "OK" in the Blending Options window! This is the main text effect layer and must be on top of the second text layer.

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Conclusion

Now you are finished. TIP: Now you can rewrite the text with something else (in both text layers) and the effect will still remain same. You can also play with different fonts.